Spontaneous splenic rupture, an unusual presentation of tuberculosis.

INTRODUCTION: Spontaneous splenic rupture from tuberculosis (TB) is a very unusual presentation within the wide range of presentations of this infectious disease. CLINICAL CASE: A 40-year-old male with a diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus, begins with fever and pain in the left hypochondrium. A computed tomography scan was performed, showing probable splenic abscesses; suddenly, it begins with hemodynamic deterioration, exacerbation of pain, a surgical exploration was performed, showing spontaneous splenic rupture. Microscopic study of the spleen shows the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: This is yet another presentation of TB, which can become a surgical emergency.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La ruptura esplénica espontánea por tuberculosis es una presentación muy inusual dentro de la amplia gama de presentaciones de esta enfermedad infectocontagiosa. CASO CLÍNICO: Masculino de 40 años con diagnóstico de VIH, inicia con fiebre y dolor en hipocondrio izquierdo. Se realiza TAC evidenciando probables abscesos esplénicos; súbitamente comienza con deterioro hemodinámico, agudización del dolor, se realiza exploración quirúrgica evidenciando ruptura esplénica espontánea. Al estudio microscópico del bazo se observa presencia de Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONES: Esta es una presentación más de la TB, la cual puede convertirse en una urgencia quirúrgica.

Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus in a Pediatric Patient: Case Report.

The giant congenital melanocytic nevus is a rare entity with an extremely low incidence that appears at the time of birth and generally involves the dermis but may also affect other skin layers. According to its clinical evolution, the probability of malignancy may vary, so proper follow-up is essential for potential management. There is no consensus in the literature about the greater benefit of surgical versus nonsurgical management. In this case report, we present the surgical management of a school-aged patient using dermal substitutes and skin grafts, subjectively obtaining an improvement in his quality of life.

Mathematical approach to the prevention-immigration causality of outbreaks of sexually transmitted diseases in Chile using HIV as a model. / Enfoque matemático para causalidad prevención-inmigración de brotes de enfermedades de transmisión sexual en Chile utilizando VIH como modelo.

In Chile, in the contingent public debate about the alarming indicators of the prevalence of infectious diseases (such sexually transmitted ones), two factors stand out as determinants: inefficient or scarce preventive campaigns and the poor level of self-care among immigrants. To develop an analytical perspective, a simplified mathematical model is proposed that quantitatively expresses the impact of these factors. Furthermore, we intend to show how these factors working together act within the epidemic of the disease. Despite the simplicity of the proposed argument, a better understanding may address theoretical recommendations for the control and prevention of the disease.

En Chile, en el debate público contingente respecto a los alarmantes indicadores de prevalencia de enfermedades infectocontagiosas (como las de transmisión sexual), destacan dos factores como determinantes: la ineficacia o escasas campañas preventivas y el componente inmigratorio de bajo nivel de autocuidado. En orden a desarrollar una perspectiva analítica, se propone un modelo matemático simplificado para expresar en términos cuantitativos la influencia de estos factores. Así también, se busca evidenciar cómo estos actúan en forma conjunta en la instalación epidémica de la enfermedad. Una comprensión, que aun atendiendo a su simplicidad, es un insumo para derivar recomendaciones teóricas de control.

[Perfil de expresión de Ki67 en lesiones melanocíticas palmoplantares: estudio de casos y controles]. / Expression profile of Ki67 in palmoplantar melanocytic lesions: a case-control study.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El melanoma acral lentiginoso es una neoplasia maligna que afecta a población predominantemente no caucásica. Debido al diagnóstico tardío suele tener mal pronóstico, además de que se considera una neoplasia biológicamente más agresiva, incluso cuando se detecta tempranamente. OBJETIVO: Determinar la expresión de Ki67 en el melanoma acral lentiginoso invasor y compararla con los nevos acrales. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal, descriptivo, observacional. Se realizó inmunohistoquímica con marcador Ki67 en 17 biopsias de melanoma acral lentiginoso invasor (casos) y 17 biopsias de nevos palmoplantares (controles). Se determinó la expresión nuclear de Ki-67 y se comparó entre ambos grupos. RESULTADOS: La media de expresión de Ki67 fue del 8.5% en el grupo control y del 34% en el grupo de melanomas, siendo esta diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p < 0.0001). DISCUSIÓN: La expresión de Ki67 en los melanomas acrales es considerablemente mayor que en los nevos acrales. El valor pronóstico del marcador Ki67 sigue siendo considerado controversial. Sin embargo, hay estudios en los que en combinación con otros marcadores se refuerza su valor pronóstico. CONCLUSIONES: Por la gran diferencia en inmunorreactividad de Ki67 entre melanomas y nevos, la expresión de Ki67, referida como índice proliferativo, podría ser considerada como factor pronóstico incluso más objetivo que el índice mitótico. BACKGROUND: Acral lentiginous melanoma is a malignant neoplasm which appears in hands and feet. Acral lentiginous melanoma has an unclear etiology, and usually affects non-Caucasian population. Because it is frequently diagnosed lately, acral melanoma has bad prognosis; however, it is biologically more aggressive than other clinicopathological types of melanoma, even when diagnosed early. OBJECTIVE: To determine the expression of Ki67 in invasive lentiginous acral melanoma and to compare it with acral nevi. METHOD: Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study. Immunohistochemistry with Ki67 marker was performed on 17 biopsies of invasive lentiginous acral melanoma (cases) and 17 biopsies of palmoplantar nevi (controls). Nuclear expression of Ki-67 was determined and both were compared between both groups. RESULTS: The mean expression of Ki67 was 8.5% in the control group, and 34% in the melanoma group, which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION: Ki67 expression in acral lentiginous melanomas is higher than in acral nevi. Prognostic value of Ki67 is still considered controversial. However, there are several studies where, in combination with other markers, their prognostic value is reinforced. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the wide gap in Ki67 expression between melanomas and nevi showed in this study, Ki67 expression, referred to as a proliferative index, could be considered as a prognostic factor even more objective than the mitotic index.

Endoscopic extra-cavitary drainage of pancreatic necrosis with fully covered self-expanding metal stents (fcSEMS) and staged lavage with a high-flow water jet system.

AIM: To present a novel, less-invasive method of endoscopic drainage (ED) for walled-off pancreatic necrosis (WON).We describe the feasibility, success rate, and complications of combined ED extra-cavitary lavage and debridement of WON using a biliary catheter and high-flow water jet system (water pump). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided drainage was performed with insertion of two 7-Fr, 4-cm double pigtail stents. Subsequently a fully covered self-expanding metal stent (fcSEMS) was placed. The key aspect of the debridement was the insertion of a 5-Fr biliary catheter through or along the fcSEMS into the cavity, with ensuing saline lavage using a high-flow water jet system. The patients were then brought back for repeated, planned endoscopic lavages of the WON. No endoscopic intra-cavitary exploration was performed. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients (15 men, 2 women; mean age 52.6, range 24 - 69; mean American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] score of 3) underwent ED of WON with this new method. The mean initial WON diameter was 9.5 cm, range 8 to 26 cm. The total number of ED was 84, range 2 to 13. The mean stenting period was 42.5 days. The mean follow-up was 51 days, range 3 to 370. A resolution of the WON was achieved in 14 patients (82.3 %). There were no major complications associated with this method. CONCLUSION: ED of complex WON with fcSEMS followed by repeated endoscopic extra-cavitary lavage and debridement using a biliary catheter and high-flow water jet system is a minimally invasive, feasible method with high technical and clinical success and minimal complications.

Estimates of direct and indirect effects for early juvenile survival in captive populations maintained for conservation purposes: the case of Cuvier's gazelle.

Together with the avoidance of any negative impact of inbreeding, preservation of genetic variability for life-history traits that could undergo future selective pressure is a major issue in endangered species management programmes. However, most of these programmes ignore that, apart from the direct action of genes on such traits, parents, as contributors of offspring environment, can influence offspring performance through indirect parental effects (when parental genotype and phenotype exerts environmental influences on offspring phenotype independently of additive genetic effects). Using quantitative genetic models, we estimated the additive genetic variance for juvenile survival in a population of the endangered Cuvier's gazelle kept in captivity since 1975. The dataset analyzed included performance recording for 700 calves and a total pedigree of 740 individuals. Results indicated that in this population juvenile survival harbors significant additive genetic variance. The estimates of heritability obtained were in general moderate (0.115-0.457) and not affected by the inclusion of inbreeding in the models. Maternal genetic contribution to juvenile survival seems to be of major importance in this gazelle's population as well. Indirect genetic and indirect environmental effects assigned to mothers (i.e., maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects) roughly explain a quarter of the total variance estimated for the trait analyzed. These findings have major evolutionary consequences for the species as show that offspring phenotypes can evolve strictly through changes in the environment provided by mothers. They are also relevant for the captive breeding programme of the species. To take into account, the contribution that mothers have on offspring phenotype through indirect genetic effects when designing pairing strategies might serve to identify those females with better ability to recruit, and, additionally, to predict reliable responses to selection in the captive population.

Over-the-scope clip placement is effective rescue therapy for severe acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: The novel over-the-scope clip (OTSC) allows for excellent apposition of tissue, potentially permitting hemostasis to be achieved in various types of gastrointestinal lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness and safety of OTSCs for endoscopic hemostasis in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding in whom traditional endoscopic methods had failed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series of all patients who underwent placement of an OTSC for severe recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding over a 14-month period was studied. Outcome data for the procedure included achievement of primary hemostasis, episodes of recurrent bleeding, and complications. RESULTS: Twelve consecutive patients (67 % men; mean age 59, range 29 - 86) with ongoing upper gastrointestinal bleeding despite previous endoscopic management were included. They had a mean ASA score of 3 (range 2 - 4), a mean hemoglobin of 7.2 g/dL (range 5.2 - 9.1), and shock was present in 75 % of patients. They had all received packed red blood cells (mean 5.1 units, range 2 - 12). The etiology of bleeding was: duodenal ulcer (n = 6), gastric ulcer (n = 2) Dieulafoy lesion (n = 2), anastomotic ulceration (n = 1), Mallory - Weiss tear (n = 1). Hemostasis was achieved in all patients. Rebleeding occurred in two patients 1 day and 7 days after OTSC placement. There were no complications associated with OTSC application. CONCLUSIONS: OTSC use represents an effective, easily performed, and safe endoscopic therapy for various causes of severe acute gastrointestinal bleeding when conventional endoscopic techniques have failed. This therapy should be added to the armamentarium of therapeutic endoscopists.

La omisión de la relajación neuromuscular en pacientes ambulatorios que requieren intubación orotraqueal incrementa temporalmente la incidencia de síntomas laríngeos postoperatorios: estudio cuasi-experimental / The avoidance of neuromuscular paralysis in outpatients requiring endotracheal intubation temporarily increases the incidence of postoperative laryngeal symptoms: quasi-experimental study

Introducción. Las técnicas de intubación endotraqueal sin relajación neuromuscular han crecido en popularidad, pero su impacto en unidades quirúrgicas donde existe personal en entrenamiento es desconocido. Objetivo. Evaluar el impacto de omitir la relajación neuromuscular, en términos de incidencia de disfonía y odinofagia, en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos ambulatorios cortos que requieren intubación endotraqueal en una unidad quirúrgica académica universitaria. Método. Estudio cuasi-experimental, no aleatorizado, doble ciego, en pacientes adultos programados para cirugía ambulatoria que requerían intubación endotraqueal. El grupo de no relajación recibió lidocaína (1,5 mg kg-1), propofol (1,5-2 mg kg-1) y remifentanil 4 mcg kg-1, y el grupo de relajación recibió la misma técnica, y se adicionó rocuronio a dosis de 0,3-0,6 mg kg-1. Los desenlaces primarios se evaluaron a los días 1, 3 y 14 postoperatorios. Resultados. Se incluyeron 287 pacientes. El 51,7 % recibió relajante neuromuscular. La incidencia de disfonía fue estadísticamente mayor a las 24 horas en el grupo de no relajante (26 % frente a 15 %; valor p: 0,016); así, no fue significativa a las 72 horas de seguimiento (0,6 % frente a 0 %; valor de p 0,37). No se encontraron diferencias en la incidencia de odinofagia entre los grupos. Los síntomas habían desaparecido en toda la población estudiada a la semana de seguimiento. Conclusiones. Omitir la relajación neuromuscular se asocia con un incremento transitorio de disfonía a las 24 horas del posoperatorio, pero no de odinofagia. No existen diferencias en la incidencia de síntomas laríngeos en 72 horas. La adición de relajante neuromuscular para disminuir la incidencia de disfonía temprana puede estar justificada.

Introduction. Endotracheal intubation without neuromuscular relaxation has become more common, but its impact on surgical units of teaching hospitals is unknown. Objective. To assess the impact of avoiding neuromuscularrelaxation in terms of incidence ofhoarseness and sore throat in ambulatory surgery patients requiring endotracheal intubation in surgical unit of a teaching hospital. Method. A quasi-experimental, non-randomized, double-blind study in adult patients undergoing outpatient surgery requiring endotracheal intubation. The non muscle relaxant group received lidocaine (1.5 mg kg-1), propofol (1.5 - 2 mg kg-1) and remifentanil 4 mcg * kg-1 and the muscle relaxation group received the same technique and rocuronium 0.3 to 0.6 mg * kg-1. The primary outcomes were assessed at days 1, 3 and 14.Results. We enrolled 287 patients, where 51.7 % received rocuronium. The incidence of hoarseness was significantly higher at 24 hours in the nonrelaxant group (26 % vs. 15 %, p value: 0.016) being not significant after 72 hours of follow up (0.6 % vs. 0 %; p: 0.37). We found no differences inthe incidence of sore throat between the groups. All the study patients were asymptomatic at one week. Conclusions. Avoidance of neuromuscular relaxationis associated with a transient (First 24hours) increase in hoarseness after ambulatory surgery, but no difference in sore throat. We found no differences in the incidence of laryngeal symptoms after 72 hours. The addition of musclerelaxant to reduce the incidence of hoarseness can be justified.

Assessment of the toll-like receptor 4 Asp299Gly, Thr399Ile and interleukin-8 -251 polymorphisms in the risk for the development of distal gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The intensity of the inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori colonization is associated with the development of distal gastric cancer (GC). The host response to H. pylori has been related to genetic polymorphisms that influence both innate and adaptive immune responses.Our aim was to investigate whether the presence of the TLR4 Asp299Gly, TLR4 Thr399Ile and IL-8-251 A/T polymorphisms had any influence in the development of distal GC in a Mexican population. METHODS: We studied 337 patients that were divided in two groups: 78 patients with histologically confirmed distal GC and 259 non-cancer controls. The presence of H. pylori in the control population was defined by positive results of at least two of four diagnostic tests: serology, histology, rapid urease test and culture. Human DNA was purified and genotyped for TLR4 Asp299Gly polymorphism by pyrosequencing, for TLR4 Thr399Ile by PCR-RFLP and for IL8-251 by the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR. RESULTS: The non-cancer control group was found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at the polymorphic loci studied (chi-square H-W = 0.58 for IL8-251, 0.42 for TLR4 Asp299Gly and 0.17 for TLR4 Thr399Ile). The frequencies of mutated alleles (homozygous plus heterozygous) were compared between cases and controls. We found no significant difference for TLR4- Asp299Gly [the 7.7% of distal GC patients and 7.7 % non-cancer controls (p = 0.82)] and for TLR4 Thr399Ile [the 1.3% of GC patients and the 5% of the control population (p = 0.2)]. In contrast, for IL-8-251 A/T, 80.77% of the GC patients and 66.4% in the control group age and gender matched had at least one copy of mutated allele (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.1-4.2) (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: This study showed that the IL8-251*A allele could be related to the development of distal gastric cancer in this Mexican population.

Interacciones entre polimorfismos del gen MTHFR, gestaciones e inicio de vida sexual modifican el riesgo para cáncer cérvico-uterino en una población del noreste de México / The effect of MTHFR polymorphisms, pregnancy and first intercourse on cervical cancer in a population from the Northeastern Mexico

Objective. To investigate the possible association among MTHFR polymorfhisms, environmental factors and cervical cancer (CC) in the Mexican population. Methods. Seventy patients with CC and 89 control women were questioned about clinical data and their 677 and 1298 genotypes of MTHFR gene were analized. Results. Multipregnancies (0-2 vs. > 3, OR 2.1), an early age of first intercourse (IVS) (17 < vs. > 18 years, OR 4.3) or both factors (OR 3.5) were significantly associated with CC. MTHFR 677, 1298 polymorphisms and their combinations were not different between cases and controls. However, a significant association between pregnancies, TVS and MTHFR polymorphisms (presence of 1298C allele or 677TT genotype) was observed. The 1298C allele plus multipregnancies and IVS < 17 years, or both factors, increased 4.3, 5.3, and 11.8 times the risk for CC, respectively, while 677TT genotype changed the risk 2.0, 1.9, and 4.2 times, respectively. Conclusion. The 1298C allele increases the risk of CC strongly in women with multipregnancies and early age of IVS, while 677TT genotype has a lower risk without becoming a protection factor.

Objetivo. Buscar la asociación entre polimorfismos de la enzima metilentetrahidrofolato reductasa (MTHFR), factores ambientales y cáncer cérvico-uterino (CaCU) en mujeres del noreste de México. Métodos. Setenta pacientes con CaCU y 89 mujeres controles se sometieron a un interrogatorio clínico y a genotipificación de los polimorfismos 677C -> T y 1298A -> C del gen MTHFR. Resultados. La multigestación (0-2 vs.> 3, OR 2.1), un temprano inicio de vida sexual (IVS) (17 < vs. > 18 años, OR 4.3) o la combinación de ambos factores (OR 3.5), estuvieron asociados significativamente al CaCU. Los polimorfismos de MTHFR 677, 1298 y sus combinaciones no fueron diferentes entre casos y controles. Sin embargo, se observó una interacción significativa entre las gestaciones, el IVS y los polimorfismos de MTHFR (presencia del alelo 1298C o del genotipo 677TT). El alelo 1298C combinado con multigestación, con un IVS < 17 años, o con ambos factores, incrementó el riesgo para CaCU en 4.3, 5.3 y 11.8 veces, respectivamente, en tanto que el genotipo 677TT modificó este riesgo a 2.0, 1.9, y 4.2 veces, respectivamente. Conclusión. El alelo 1298C incrementa considerablemente el riesgo para CaCU en mujeres multigestas y con un IVS temprano, en tanto que el genotipo 677TT disminuye este riesgo, pero sin llegar a convertirse en un factor protector.

[The effect of MTHFR polymorphisms, pregnancy and first intercourse on cervical cancer in a population from the Northeastern Mexico]. / Interacciones entre polimorfismos del gen MTHFR, gestaciones e inicio de vida sexual modifican el riesgo para cáncer cérvico-uterino en una población del noreste de México.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association among MTHFR polymorfhisms, environmental factors and cervical cancer (CC) in the Mexican population. METHODS: Seventy patients with CC and 89 control women were questioned about clinical data and their 677 and 1298 genotypes of MTHFR gene were analized. RESULTS: Multipregnancies (0-2 vs. > or = 3, OR 2.1), an early age of first intercourse (IVS) (17 < or = vs. > or = 18 years, OR 4.3) or both factors (OR 3.5) were significantly associated with CC. MTHFR 677, 1298 polymorphisms and their combinations were not different between cases and controls. However, a significant association between pregnancies, IVS and MTHFR polymorphisms (presence of 1298C allele or 677TT genotype) was observed. The 1298C allele plus multipregnancies and IVS < or = 17 years, or both factors, increased 4.3, 5.3, and 11.8 times the risk for CC, respectively, while 677TT genotype changed the risk 2.0, 1.9, and 4.2 times, respectively. CONCLUSION: The 1298C allele increases the risk of CC strongly in women with multipregnancies and early age of IVS, while 677TT genotype has a lower risk without becoming a protection factor.

Comparision of endoscopy-based and serum-based methods for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori.

UNLABELLED: Available commercial tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection are based on different types of antigen preparations and hence the diagnostic utility differs substantially. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of the determination of Immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG antibodies to H pylori whole cell (WC) and IgG antibodies to cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) using an in-house ELISA in relation to the results obtained with different invasive methods. METHODS: The study population consisted of 251 Mexican adults, mean age 53 years, age range 15 to 92 years and female to male ratio of 1.5. Peptic ulcer disease was present in 10.8% of these patients, 5.2% had gastric cancer, 11.2% had esophagitis and 72.9% had nonulcer dyspepsia. Biopsy specimens from the body and the antrum of the stomach were obtained for culture, histology and rapid urease test. ELISAs to detect IgA and IgG WC and CagA antibodies were performed using serum. RESULTS: H pylori status was established by the results of the invasive tests. Eighty (31.9%) patients positive to the three tests and 38 (15.1%) negative to all the tests were identified. Based on this result, the sensitivity and specificity of the serology assays were 97.5% and 78.9% for the IgG WC and 70% and 73.7% for the IgA WC, respectively. However, if H pylori status was defined by the positive result of at least one or two invasive diagnostic tests, the sensitivity for the IgG WC decreased to 87.3% and 66.7% respectively, but the specificity was essentially the same. Similar results were obtained for the sensitivity and specificity of IgA using the same criteria. A low CagA prevalence was observed (39%). CONCLUSIONS: Testing for serological IgG antibodies to H pylori WC was the best to assess whether infection by H pylori was present. Neither the IgA WC nor the IgG CagA ELISAs add significant value in the diagnosis of H pylori.